Misty Van Laningham

For Misty Van Laningham, teaching has always been about making sure students feel seen, valued, and capable. She brings more than two decades of experience to her 3rd grade classroom at KTEC Schools of Innovation, having taught Kindergarten and 3rd grade and served in roles ranging from library assistant and early childhood art educator to Preschool Administrator and instructional leader. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from Wartburg College, a 316 Wisconsin Reading Teacher license, and additional training in Orton-Gillingham Morphology and Act 20 practices, and is a KUSD Spark Award recipient.

In her classroom, students are affectionately known as “Van Laningham VIPs.” She is guided by Maya Angelou’s belief that people will never forget how you made them feel, and it shows in how she builds her classroom: with kindness, intentional instruction, and a deep respect for each student’s individual journey. Her goal is a space where every child belongs and has the confidence to grow.

Outside of school, Misty enjoys scrapbooking with friends and making memories with her family at Disney World.